Your Quirky Must-Have Pantry Items

9-12-2007 @11:36PM Gloria said... Am never without Dry Lipton Onion Soup Mix. It will season,tenderize, use for soup, dips, gravies, you name it and you can use it.
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9-12-2007 @11:12PM Michelle said... I have to have Ramen Noodles- either the beef or the creamy chicken flavors-- usually both & a 6-pack of Hershey's bars. Plus I always have to have a 24-case of Mountain Dew for my husband and his friends. And for me, I always have brownie mixes and a couple of tubs of icing on hand for when I get a sweet tooth attack or friends are coming over and I need to whip up some sort of treat for them-- its become tradition now that everyone we know stops by and gets something sweet to eat before they leave.
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9-12-2007 @11:17PM shasha said... absolute must haves:

Bisquick
eggs
sliced ham
shredded cheese
canned tomatoes with different seasonings

Bisquick is like this miracle thing that you can do all sorts of stuff with from making biscuits, sugar cookies, to a quiche like recipe called the incedibly easy pie, to a pizza, or even a coating for meat that you can bake your meat in the oven and it comes out much better than frying.

Let's face it eggs are the most perfect food, you can scramble them, boil them, make egg salad, quiche, They cook in just minutes and make a perfect protein rich midnight snack.

SLiced ham, or boiled ham as mom used to call it. you can make sandwhiches of course, chop some up in your scrambled eggs, use it in a quiche, or even add it to mac and cheese for a complete main course.

The tomatoes depending on what seasoning you have in them, can be used as a pizza topping, poured over pasta noodles, as a sauce, the green chilies one is great on tortilla chips. Plus it's a vegie, and full of nutrients.
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9-12-2007 @11:27PM Beth said... Seasoning rubs and BBQ sauces by Stubb's.
We grill once or twice a week, so these are essential.
There is alway's a can of Rotel tomatoes in the pantry, too, especially now that cooler weather is on its way.....it's perfect for soup.
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9-12-2007 @11:33PM Sharon said... Kitt, I just have to know HOW you prepare the flank steak you have frozen after marinating for a day in low sodium soy sauce and honey.....I have issues with getting flank steak to cook up properly! Thanks for sharing!
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9-12-2007 @11:38PM Sharon said... Oh, sorry, forgot my pantry oddities, lol! Always must have anchovies, both flat and rolled with capers, canned diced tomatoes with garlic in olive oil make a base for almost a dozen of my favorite quick to fix dishes. Oh, and we keep tubes of salmon paste and Swedish Roe that work great on crackers or even in an omelet as a secret ingredient. Fragrant rices and couscous are staples, and a jar of dried beef has saved the day a few times :-)
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9-12-2007 @11:40PM bunnys23 said... I always try to keep my pantry WELL stocked with a wide variety of things. I have 3 types of dried mushrooms; 3 different types of curry; must not forget all the herbs & spices from tumeric to cardamom; different salts (sea salt & french gray salt) and peppercorns (black,pink,& green); asian rice noodles, miso paste (red & white), nori, and other asian spices and necessities;anchovy paste;arborio rice; nuts (all kinds from hazelnut to cashews)& dried fruit; different types of mustards; jams; lemon curd and clotted cream; caviar and pate (just in case as well as a bottle of champagne). My family thinks I am a bit odd but I tell them that I live in the mountains and occasionally get snowed in - its a great excuse and has worked so far.
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9-12-2007 @11:46PM katyamh said... avocados, tomatoes, onion, limes, and cilantro so that i can make guacamole whenever i want!

and lots of things that might go in a marinade and meat so i can make an easy dinner

lots of veggies to go with said dinner
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9-12-2007 @11:53PM Belle Starr said... Soup bases and spaghettie sauces . With rice or noodles you can ride almost anything . Just add meat and vegies and if you want cheese . You could feed The Army and the Navy and The Marines ( OOH RAH ) if need be .
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9-13-2007 @12:12AM Fumefreak said... A bottle or 2 of clam juice (for clam chowder), saffron powder, crushed ginger, crushed garlic and chopped garlic (you can never have to much garlic), soy sauce, Basmati rice, Knoor Leek Soup mix (for that random batch of spinach dip I may have to make for a friend's improptu party), fresh basil leaves (used in breakfast burritos and sandwiches), a jar of pickled okra (just for eating), and frozen okra (the number of people who have this surprised me).
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9-13-2007 @12:16AM Sheri said... any kind pasta, vinger,sugar,dried onion,dried roasted garlic,dried tomatoes and corn starch, all kinds of can veggies for fast stir fry
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9-13-2007 @11:34AM coastalvicar said... Vinegars: aged Balsamic, red wine, champagne, grapefruit, pomegranate, Mango Chile, rice wine, sherry, cider, orange-muscat, and more.....they liven some many dishes and salads.

cv
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9-13-2007 @12:17AM KC said... Old Bay Seasoning. A MidAtlantic pantry is no properly stocked if there is no Old Bay around.
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9-13-2007 @12:22AM Nancy said... I always have pasta,orzo,rice, tomato sauce,chicken stock. My pantry has loads of odd things in it.
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9-13-2007 @12:34AM Arlene said... Ooooh, "condimentia" -- that's what I have, too, but I never had that clever a name for it!
Mustards (always at least 5 or 6 open in my fridge, and others in the pantry in reserve); vinegars; pickles; capers; marinades; hot sauces; Knorr's Adobo sauce in a carton. Also spices and spice blends; 3 extra bottles of Spice Islands Garlic Pepper; at least 3 kinds of onions; shallots and garlic; and every known type of tomato product.
Also too much pasta/couscous/rice, and several kinds of dark or bittersweet chocolate.
3:-)


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9-13-2007 @12:41AM Paula said... Saffron. A little goes a long way to add a subtle exotic flavor to rice, rolls or a simple stew. It is very pricey ($17/gram). You only use a few threads at a time. If you decide to splurge be sure to use it all within six to 8 months.
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9-13-2007 @12:52AM photokami said... can't live with out garlic, salt, pepper, hoisin sauce, low sodium soy sauce, black beans, garbanzo beans
love to stir fry
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9-13-2007 @12:47AM letsgo said... Coffee - plenty of it
Peanut butter
Bananas - so glad someone else has to have a bunch on hand at all times - they may not always get eaten, but have to be around.
Milk
Wih these 4 items - all is well and I do not have to cook.
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9-13-2007 @12:56AM davygd said... The essentials:

coconut milk
rice noodles
bean thread noodles
shrimp paste
fish sauce
soy sauce
ginger
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